New to Lily King Books? Here’s Where to Start (and Where to End)
From ‘The Pleasing Hour’ to ‘Heart the Lover,’ here's the reading order we recommend
Key Takeaways
- ‘Heart the Lover’ is a prequel to ‘Writers & Lovers,’ despite coming out later.
- We recommend reading all of Lily King's novels in publication order.
- ‘Writers & Lovers’ was Jenna Bush Hager's Read With Jenna pick back in 2020.
It seems everyone is talking about Lily King’s books this year. The author is known for her character-driven stories, and her work has topped the New York Times bestseller list. One of her novels was even selected as a Read With Jenna pick back in 2020. But, what are her books about? And is there an ideal order in which to read them? Below, we share more about the books and the reading order, as well as what readers really think about them.
Is there a correct order to read Lily King’s books?
Since most of King’s books are standalones, the order doesn’t really matter much…except for her two most recent novels, Heart the Lover and Writers & Lovers. Heart the Lover is technically a prequel to Writers & Lovers but it was published five years later. So, what is the correct way? It’s really up to you, but in our opinion going in publication order is best, because if King wanted you to read Heart the Lover before Writers & Lovers, she would have published it first! King herself hasn’t commented on the reading order, but keep reading for a look at all of the writer’s books.
‘The Pleasing Hour’
Originally published in 1999, King’s debut novel follows Rosie, an American au pair living in Paris, who has suffered an unthinkable loss. Initially, Rosie’s job was perfect. She got along well with Nicole Tivot, the family matriarch, and her three kids. But when Lola, the family’s middle child, suspects that Rosie and her father are having an affair, Rosie is forced to move to the south of France to take care of an elderly family member. While there, secrets about Nicole’s family come to light and Rosie begins to question everything she thought she knew about her employers.
What readers are saying: “I loved this story. It’s beautifully written and just deep enough to keep you completely focused. What an incredibly difficult time the main character had to go through. Yet she was able to do it without slipping. Also some nice descriptions of life in France as an au pair. Altogether an excellent story by one of my favorite writers.”
‘The English Teacher’
If you love books about books, you won’t want to miss King’s 2005 novel, The English Teacher. Fifteen years ago, Vida Avery arrived at the elite Fayer Academy pregnant, alone and determined to make her own way in the world. Years later, Vida is a fixture at the school and her son Peter is protected from her past. But when she hastily accepts a marriage proposal from Tom Belou, things change. Now Vida is more determined than ever to find solace in her books and outrun the ghosts of her past. What follows is a thrilling story about second chances and family.
What readers are saying: “What a beautifully written book! I found myself reading phrases over and over, marveling at the cadence, the cleverness, and how sections fit so snugly together, as if they were jigsaw puzzle pieces. It’s a beautifully orchestrated, emotionally complex and strangely tender book.”
‘Father of the Rain’
In King’s 2010 novel, when Daley Amory is just 11 years old, her mother leaves her father, forcing her into a chaotic world of divorce and being forced to choose between her parents. As she grows up, Daley learns more and more about her father and his addiction to alcohol. Then, one day he hits rock bottom and Daley must decide if her father is worth saving. A moving family drama that explores the love between father and daughter in a never-before-seen light.
What readers are saying: “Father of the Rain is an excellent book. The writing is fabulous and totally drew me into the story. The author is equally adept at expressing the tone and content of the thoughts of a young girl as she is with those of the same character as an adult. . . very impressive. While the subject matter, alcoholism and family dysfunction, is difficult, the book is still enjoyable from page one. The book is written so well that it carries the reader along through the roller coaster ride that is the main character’s life, making the story and the characters spring to life. Simply excellent!”
‘Euphoria’
Euphoria, King’s first historical fiction novel, was published in 2014. Set in the 1930s, the plot follows English anthropologist Andrew Bankson, who is haunted by the memory of his brother’s death. He’s on the verge of ending his life until he meets controversial Nell Stone and her husband Fen. Soon, romantic sparks fly among the three of them and nothing will prepare them for what comes next.
What readers are saying: “This novel is fictionalization of the lives of Margaret Mead, Reo Fortune and Gregory Bateson. What’s really terrific about this book is that it really gives you a feel for the experiences of early anthropologists like Mead and others. You feel their physical discomfort and pain and the sacrifices they made for science and for their own intellectual curiosity.”
‘Writers & Lovers’
This Read With Jenna pick follows Casey Peabody, a former golf prodigy who arrives in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in the summer of 1997 following her mother’s sudden death. Not sure what else to do, she waits tables in Harvard Square while stubbornly clinging to the novel she’s been writing for six years—long after her friends have abandoned their own creative dreams. But as Casey finds herself falling for two very different men, she must decide: keep chasing an impossible dream, or finally let go and embrace a different kind of life?
What readers are saying: “Let’s just get right to it. I loved Writers & Lovers! It’s my favorite book so far this year and I can say with confidence that Lily King’s novel will be making an appearance on my Best Books of The Year list. From start to finish I was captivated by Casey’s story and fully immersed in King’s gorgeous writing.”
‘Heart the Lover’
In King’s 2025 novel Heart the Lover, the narrator—known as Jordan—befriends Sam and Yash in college, and the three become entangled in a complicated love triangle. Decades later, an unexpected visitor arrives at Jordan’s door, forcing her to confront the choices she made all those years ago and the life she’s been living ever since. This novel, published five years after Writers & Lovers, is a prequel to that bestselling book and is just as moving.
What readers are saying: “I knew from the very first line: ‘You knew I’d write a book about you someday…’ that this one was going to pull me in, and it absolutely did. It’s very poetic, very emotional, and one of those reads that kind of sits with you after you finish. I had heard it described as a love triangle, but I don’t think that really captures it. Yes, there are those elements, but without giving anything away… it’s not your typical love triangle at all. It also had me reflecting on my own life, and honestly, those are the books I love most… the ones that make you pause and think.”
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